INTRO: Narrow Road, False Teachers, Genuine Fruit, Solid Foundation, and now, ministry takes place…

Message: Matthew 7:28, And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

• Exousia, the unimpeded power to act, or to control or to dispose of something or somebody.

-The difference between Holy Spirit living and carnal living: your life is marked by power and control.

-The difference between Spirit-empowered preaching and preaching that entertains.

“The sign of Christianity is not a cross but a tongue of fire.”

(Samuel Chadwick)

• Coast-Guard, Navy Seal, Emergency Room, Fireman

~How can the pulpits sit at ease when the world around us is damned?~

“The man whose sermon is ‘repent’ sets himself against the world, and will be battered mercilessly by those he challenges. There is but one end for such a man—‘off with his head!’ You had better not try to preach repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven” (paraphrasing Joseph Parker).

It’s a great danger to preach about the Holy Spirit without the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Are You a Seeker or a Skeptic?

• Why don’t you ask the One who has the answers?

“You cannot be deceived if you’re filled with the Spirit, living in His Word, making prayer and worship an important part of your day, and remain broken and humble before Him.” Pastor Shane

HE HEALS EMOTIONS / AWAKENS OUR SOULS

• Confession and Repentance: ABORTION

‘Worship’ heals, sets free, releases…

• #1 Disconnect in the lives of believers.

___STEP ON TOES___________

DEAD Worship Parallels the Drought: Famine

Emotions are God-given.

• Does the emotional side of the Psalms embarrass you. Does Paul’s passion offend?

1. Worship the Word more than the author.

2. Or you need a mighty filling of the Spirit.

• We’ve been taught that emotions are BAD.

The Walls You Have Built To Protect Have Imprisoned

“The more i seek Him…The more I find Him…I love Him.

• 7XS: It’s not brainwashing; it’s Brain Repairing.

Show me one time where worship wasn’t emotional

This isn’t coming from some “emotional” guy:

• Bench 400 lbs.; STEAMROLLER

• Oklahoma, “You don’t cry, boy!”

“The Father is looking for those who will worship him…For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

WORSHIP OFTEN PRECEDES HEALING . . .

1. The LEPER worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing…”

2. A synagogue OFFICIAL worshiped Him, “My daughter has just died…”

3. The HEART-BROKEN MOM worshiped him, “Lord, help me my daughter is vexed with the devil.”

4. The DEMONIC ran and fell on his knees and worshiped Him.

HEART SURGEON

Feeding the Seeker; upsetting the Skeptic

We may lose a ½ dozen but God’s bringing them from the N, S, E, W: “The Father is looking for…”

• HE CALLED ME TO REVIVE HEARTS…NOT PUT THEM ASLEEP.

• WE ARE WORSHIPPING THE LIVING GOD…NOT STANDING IN LINE AT THE DMV.

“That’s funny!” No…it’s sad!

Stop making excuses for your lack of passion:

1. We have the WORD!

2. I’m just not emotional!

Thousands will hear the WORD this weekend, but not experiencing God. People will arrive hungry, and leave starving:

“Pastor, that was a wonderful sermon. It was grammatically and historically accurate. Your hermeneutic and homiletic approach was dead on. The greek and hebrew explanation was second to none.” BUT…

~Charisma: I love you, but “if it’s odd its God” is not Biblical. Emotions are not the engine of the TRAIN.

~Reformed: We have the same heros…authors…

The very thing you need is the very thing you’re avoiding: The power and presence of the Spirit

• Allow brokenness, repentance and heart-felt worship to engage your soul~!

HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE ME!!

• No, how dare you run from the very thing you need: TRUE, GENUINE, HEART-FELT WORSHIP

Davids wife mocked him…

8 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 27 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place. 28 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength. 29 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

When was the last time you wept in the presence of God?

When was the last time you truly worshiped HIM?

• Joseph wept, Men of War wept, David wept, Nehemiah, Kings wept, Prophets wept…FELL DOWN IN THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD.

Are you a Seeker or a Skeptic?

The question demands an answer.